President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile

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President of the
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Presidente de la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile
Emblem of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Incumbent
Ricardo Cifuentes
since 24 July 2023
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
StyleHis Excellency
The Honorable
StatusPresiding officer
SeatNational Congress of Chile, Valparaíso
NominatorPolitical parties
AppointerChamber of Deputies of Chile
Term lengthOne legislative year
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Chile
FormationJuly 4, 1811; 212 years ago (1811-07-04)
First holderJuan Antonio Ovalle
DeputyFirst Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies
Second Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies
SalaryUS$133,282[1]
CLP$112,198,212
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

The president of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile (Spanish: Presidente de la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile) is the highest authority of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile. The office was established in 1811 by the First National Congress of Chile.

It is third on the presidential line of succession after the minister of the interior and public security and the president of the Senate of Chile (Constitution, Art. 29).

The office is currently held by Vlado Mirosevic of the Liberal Party (PL). He was elected on 7 November 2022.[2] Karol Cariola's term as President of the Chamber of Deputies will then take place, after which the remaining three presidencies will be shared between Miguel Ángel Calisto (DC), Yovana Ahumada (PDG) and the Broad Front (FA).[2] Likewise, the first and second vice-presidencies were assigned to people who are members of the PR, FA, PS, PC, DC and PPD.[2]

Election[edit]

The directive board of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile is composed of a president, a first vice president and a second vice president. They are elected by an absolute majority in a secret ballot.[3]

The president and Vice presidents of the chamber can be reelected.

In case of a resignation from office by the president of the Chamber, if accepted by the Chamber of Deputies, new elections will be held on a congressional session forty five hours after the position was left vacant.

History[edit]

Patria Vieja (1810–1814)[edit]

The first president of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile was Juan Antonio Ovalle,[4] a lawyer and landowner who had previously served as procurator of Santiago. He was elected as deputy for Santiago with 343 votes and appointed president of the unicameral First National Congress of Chile. He held office for 16 days before being replaced by Martín Calvo Encalada[5] who had been serving as deputy for Curicó.

On September 4, 1811, revolutionary José Miguel Carrera, with the support of his siblings, led a successful coup d'état with the goal of establishing a more radical government.[6] Joaquín Larraín,[7] a co-conspirator of the coup, was appointed new president of the chamber of deputies as congress went on to pass several reforms.[8][9]

Relations between José Miguel Carrera and other co-conspirators rapidly worsened which led the Carrera family to carry out a second coup d'état on November 15. Congress continued operating until December 2 when Carrera ordered its dissolution.[10]

Congress was reinstated in 1812, being composed solely by the Senate of Chile which would cease to exist in 1814 following the Chilean defeat at the Battle of Rancagua.[11]

Patria Nueva (1817–1823)[edit]

Supreme Director Bernardo O'Higgins reinstated congress in 1818 as a unicameral legislative body composed by the Senate of Chile.[12] A bicameral system was stablished in 1822 following the creation of a new constitution,[13] the new legislative body was composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The bicameral system could not implemented due to the political turmoil in the country following the resignation and self-exile of O'Higgins on January 28, 1823.[14]

A new constitution was drafted in 1823 during the government of Supreme Director Ramón Freire which stablished a unicameral legislative body formed by the Senate of Chile.[15]

Chilean Civil War of 1891[edit]

Ramón Barros Luco.

By 1891, several disputes between the executive and legislative branches led to an uprising by Congress with the goal of deposing the liberal government in power.[16]

President of the Chamber Ramón Barros Luco was one of signatories of the act of destitution of President José Manuel Balmaceda, which instigated the Chilean Navy to rebel against the government in support of the Congressist uprising.[17]

Barros Luco was a member of the Revolutionary Junta of Iquique which administered parts of the country that were occupied by the Congressist band during the civil war. Following the congressist victory, Barros Luco participated in another government junta which oversaw parliamentary and municipal elections.

Military dictatorship (1973–1990)[edit]

Congress was dissolved following the 1973 coup d'état that ousted President Salvador Allende.[18] A military junta led by commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army general Augusto Pinochet was stablished.

Luis Pareto served as the last president of the Chamber of Deputies prior to the dissolution of Congress. He was a proponent of the August 23, 1973 accord which accused the Allende administration of seizing power with the goal of establishing a totalitarian government contrary to the democratic values of the Chilean constitution.[19]

Presidential Republic (1990–present)[edit]

Congress was reinstated in March 1990 during the Chilean transition to democracy. Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held in December 1989.

María Maluenda, a human rights advocate and former ambassador to Vietnam,[20] served as provisional president of the Chamber of Deputies during its inaugural session before the election of José Antonio Viera-Gallo.

In 2008, President of the Chamber Juan Bustos died of liver cancer.[21] Following his death, President Michelle Bachelet declared three days of national mourning.[22] His duties were surrogated to First Vice President of the Chamber Guillermo Ceroni who served as provisional president for a week until the election of Francisco Encina.

In November 2019 several deputies requested then-President of the Chamber Iván Flores to resign following his decision to suspend activities on a day during the ongoing 2019–2020 Chilean protests which they deemed as damaging to the public image of Congress.[23] Later that month, Flores' office in Valparaíso was attacked by protestors who threw rocks at the building.[24]

In April 2020 Diego Paulsen became the youngest person to hold the position at 32 years old.[25]

Role[edit]

Iván Flores presiding over the Chamber of Deputies in 2019.

The president's principal duty is to preside over the Chamber and maintain order. In case of disarray, the president may request attendees to leave, as well as call for assistance from Carabineros with the purpose of maintaining or re-establishing order in the Chamber.

The president of the Chamber has the capacity to declare the inadmissibility of bills or constitutional reforms that infringe Art. 65 of the Constitution of Chile[26] which grants exclusive capability to the president of the Republic to propose constitutional reforms that alter the current political, administrative or fiscal divisions of the country.

Form of address[edit]

The president of the Chamber of Deputies is given the title "His Excellency" which is only used formally or in official documents.[27] The title "The Honorable" is given to all members of the Chamber of Deputies, including its president.[28]

The president should be referred to in third person like the rest of the members of the Chamber.

Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile[edit]

Presidential Republic (1990–present)[edit]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Party
1 María Maluenda
(1920–2011)
11 March 1990 11 March 1990 Party for Democracy
2 José Antonio Viera-Gallo
(born 1943)
11 March 1990 21 July 1993 Party for Democracy
3 Jorge Molina Valdivieso
(born 1932)
21 July 1993 11 March 1994 Party for Democracy
4 Jorge Schaulsohn
(born 1952)
11 March 1994 3 November 1994 Party for Democracy
5 Vicente Sota
(1924–2017)
3 November 1994 14 March 1995 Party for Democracy
6 Jaime Estévez
(born 1946)
14 March 1995 19 November 1996 Socialist Party
7 Gutenberg Martínez
(born 1950)
19 November 1996 11 March 1999 Christian Democratic Party
8 Carlos Montes
(born 1946)
11 March 1999 22 March 2000 Socialist Party
9 Víctor Barrueto
(born 1953)
22 March 2000 3 March 2001 Party for Democracy
10 Luis Pareto
(1928-2022)
3 March 2001 11 March 2002 Christian Democratic Party
11 Adriana Muñoz
(born 1948)
11 March 2002 13 March 2003 Party for Democracy
12 Isabel Allende Bussi
(born 1945)
13 March 2003 16 March 2004 Socialist Party
13 Pablo Lorenzini
(born 1949)
16 March 2004 6 January 2005 Christian Democratic Party
14 Gabriel Ascencio
(born 1953)
6 January 2005 11 March 2006 Christian Democratic Party
15 Antonio Leal
(1950-2021)
11 March 2006 20 March 2007 Party for Democracy
16 Patricio Walker
(born 1969)
20 March 2007 13 March 2008 Christian Democratic Party
17 Juan Bustos
(1935–2008)
13 March 2008 7 August 2008 Socialist Party
18 Guillermo Ceroni
(born 1946)
7 August 2008 14 August 2008 Party for Democracy
19 Francisco Encina
(born 1943)
14 August 2008 18 March 2009 Socialist Party
20 Rodrigo Álvarez
(born 1966)
18 March 2009 11 March 2010 Independent Democratic Union
21 Alejandra Sepúlveda
(born 1965)
11 March 2010 15 March 2011 Independent Regionalist Party
22 Patricio Melero
(born 1956)
15 March 2011 20 March 2012 Independent Democratic Union
23 Nicolás Monckeberg
(born 1973)
20 March 2012 3 April 2013 National Renewal
24 Edmundo Eluchans
(born 1950)
3 April 2013 11 March 2014 Independent Democratic Union
25 Aldo Cornejo
(born 1955)
11 March 2014 17 March 2015 Christian Democratic Party
26 Marco Antonio Núñez
(born 1966)
17 March 2015 22 March 2016 Party for Democracy
27 Osvaldo Andrade
(born 1953)
22 March 2016 22 March 2017 Socialist Party
28 Fidel Espinoza
(born 1970)
22 March 2017 11 March 2018 Socialist Party
29 Maya Fernández
(born 1971)
11 March 2018 19 March 2019 Socialist Party
30 Iván Flores
(born 1955)
19 March 2019 7 April 2020 Christian Democratic Party
31 Diego Paulsen
(born 1987)
7 April 2020 11 March 2022 National Renewal
32 Raúl Soto
(born 1987)
11 March 2022 7 November 2022 Party for Democracy
33 Vlado Mirosevic
(born 1987)
7 November 2022 24 July 2023 Liberal Party
34 Ricardo Cifuentes
(born 1962)
24 July 2023 Incumbent Christian Democratic Party

Timeline[edit]

Presidential Republic (1990–present)[edit]

Vlado MirosevicRaúl SotoDiego PaulsenIván FloresMaya FernándezFidel EspinozaOsvaldo AndradeMarco Antonio NúñezAldo CornejoEdmundo EluchansNicolás MonckebergPatricio MeleroAlejandra SepúlvedaRodrigo Álvarez ZentenoFrancisco EncinaGuillermo CeroniJuan Bustos (politician)Patricio WalkerAntonio Leal LabrínGabriel AscencioPablo LorenziniIsabel Allende (politician)Adriana Muñoz (politician)Luis Pareto GonzálezVíctor BarruetoCarlos Montes CisternasGutenberg MartínezJaime EstévezVicente SotaJorge SchaulsohnJorge Molina ValdiviesoJosé Antonio Viera-GalloMaría Maluenda

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "¿Cuánto le cuesta al Estado un parlamentario?". www.latercera.com. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "The PPD Raúl Soto will assume presidency of the Chamber of Deputies". https://elmostrador.cl/. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Mesa Directiva, Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile". www.camara.cl. 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Juan Antonio Ovalle – Reseñas Biográficas". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Martín Calvo Encalada Recabarren – Reseñas Biográficas". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Diario Militar de José Miguel Carrera: Capítulo II. 4 de Septiembre de 1811 – 2 de Diciembre de 1811". es.wikisource.org. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Joaquín Larraín Salas – Reseñas Biográficas". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. ^ "El Congreso Nacional y sus edificios (1811–1823)". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. ^ "La abolición de la esclavitud negra en Chile". www.memoriachilena.gob.cl. 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Disolución del congreso: LXXXV – Documentos relativos a la disolución del congreso, en 2 de December de 1811". es.wikisource.org. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Antecedentes históricos del senado". www.senado.cl. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Constituciones políticas – Proyecto de Constitución Provisoria para el Estado de Chile". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Constituciones políticas – Constitución Política del Estado de Chile (1822)". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  14. ^ "La construcción del Estado republicano (1823–1831)". www.memoriachilena.gob.cl. 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Constituciones políticas – Constitución Política del Estado de Chile (1823)". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  16. ^ "La Guerra Civil de 1891". www.memoriachilena.gob.cl. 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  17. ^ "José Manuel Balmaceda (1840–1891)". www.memoriachilena.gob.cl. 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. ^ "El Congreso Nacional y sus edificios (1973–1990)". www.bcn.cl. 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  19. ^ Chamber of Deputies of Chile (23 August 1973). "2". Acuerdo de la Cámara de Diputados sobre el grave quebrantamiento del orden constitucional y legal de la República (PDF) (Report). Santiago, Chile. p. 1. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  20. ^ "María Maluenda (1920–2011)". www.memoriachilena.gob.cl. 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Murió presidente de la Cámara de Diputados, Juan Bustos". www.emol.com. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Gobierno decreta tres días de duelo nacional y funerales de Estado por el fallecimiento de Juan Bustos". www.latercera.com. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  23. ^ Pérez Vallejos, Ricardo (12 November 2019). "Diputados piden la renuncia del presidente de la cámara por suspender actividades". La Nación (in Spanish). Santiago, Chile. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  24. ^ Caro, I.; Leiva, M. (26 November 2019). "Apedrean y quiebran ventana de oficina del presidente de la Cámara de Diputados". La Tercera (in Spanish). Santiago, Chile. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Amante del campo, deportista y alegre: Diego Paulsen, el inesperado nuevo pdte. de la Cámara que tiene 32 años". www.chvnoticias.cl. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Ley Orgánica Constitucional del Congreso Nacional". Article 15, Act No. 18918 of February 5, 1990 (in Spanish). p. 9-10.
  27. ^ "Reglamento Cámara de Diputados de Chile". Article 53, Act of August 1, 2019 (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 27.
  28. ^ "Reglamento Cámara de Diputados de Chile". Article 83, Act of August 1, 2019 (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 39.